Over the Earth's Next Curve

By Jennifer R., Ellwood City, PA

Image Credit: Grayson H., Highland Village, TX

The last time I saw you -At the crazy beach houseWith the staring masks high on the wallsAnd all the hints of an imagined AfricaThe waves piled so highAs we flew down on the shoreBoogie boardsThe power threatened meThe grate of knees on shellsA tinge of scarlet streaming down white fleshNow, you are leaving, and so am IWhen haven't we been?All our lives, my brother, we said thatWhen we had the chance, we would stopAnd actually stay firm to one placeNow, Wales for youAll I know is that it rains there -A lotMe? Bolivia againI'll never be free of itIt burrowed into mi sangre, my bloodBut I think you understandMy God, what are we fleeing?Our family spans three continentsEven for all of Mom's grasping handsDesperate to pin us downWe pride ourselves on our independenceDon't-need-nobody-don't-touch-meDon't-don't-don't-damn itWe can never unbend or the pain will kill usSo, we runThere is only so far you can go Until you end up where you beganMy brother and I I think we secretly mourn that the earth is roundBut we'll never tellThe next time I see youMy brotherYou'll be even farther away